Improvement in feather-dusters



G. W. NICHOLS. Feather Duster.

No. 212,732. Patented Feb. 25,1879.

UNITED STATES CLARENCE W. NICHOLS,

PATENT OFFICE.

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT lN FEATHER-DUSTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N0. 212,732, dated February25, 1879; application filed July 3, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLARENCE W. NIoHoLs, of the city of Chicago, Cookcounty, State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements inFeather-Dusters," of which the following is a full description,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 isan elevation with the feathers or duster portion partly cut away, andFig. 2 an elevation of the base of the handle enlarged.

This invention relates to dusters; and consists in a handle or basehaving tapering extensions, provided with two or more feathergrooves anda skirt-groove, and the combiua tion of parts, as will be hereinaftermore fully described.

In the drawings, A represents the base of thehandle; B, the handleproper; C, the tapered or conical portion; D, the dusterfeathers; E, thefeather-skirt; a, the first or inner step or groove; 1), the second; 0,the third; (7, the fourth or skirt step or groove, and c the windingwire or cord.

The handle B and base A may be made to screw together, as shown, or theymay be made of one piece. The tapering part C is provided with grooves,as shown, and the form shown is preferred, as they give the feathers asecure fastening, and cause them to stand out, as desired, for afinished brush; but it is evident that more or less of them may be used,according to the quality and finish of the brush.

This conical or tapered handle base will be found useful for anyfeather-duster; but it will be found of greater service and aid inproducing a superior brush if the feathers are treated by any of theprocesses patented to me July 3, 1877, No. 13,594.

In attaching the feathers, the wire is fastened in or near the groove a.The first course of feathers is then placed in position, wound, and thebutts trimmed, so as not to interfere with the next course. The secondcourse is then placed in position, wound, and trimmed, as before. Thethird course is then placed in position, wound, and trimmed. Thefeatherskirt E is then placed in position and wound. The groove 01, inwhich the skirt E is wound, has less depth and angle than the others, inorder to make the skirt lie even and close against the main feathers D,as shown in Fig. 1.

The several sections may be separately wound and fastened, or the wiremay be continued from one section to another and fastened at the ends ofthe complete winding.

When the winding is completed the usual ornamental leather covering isplaced over the base A and the wound portion of the feather-skirt E.

By making the section or part C of the handle or base tapering, asshown, and providing it with at least two grooves, in addition to theskirt-groove, a hollow center is avoid ed, the feathers are firmlysecured in place, and the feathers are made to stand out independently,so as to increase the dusting capacity of the brush and improve theindividual action of each feather; and by this method of fastening thefeathers to the handle they are firmly held in place, and are not liableto fall out, even though the handle should shrink.

It will be seen from Fig. 1 that each feather, by reason of the form ofthe grooves, has an upward turn or outward 'turn behind the wind ingwire in each of the grooves, so as to form a hook to hold it in positionand lock it in position, so that itcannot be pulled out.

By winding in these grooves the feathers are all more strongly fastenedin place, and the stubs more effectually covered than they can be by theuse of an even or plain surface, such as has been heretofore used.

By making the grooves in the form shown the projections a b 0 cause thefeathers to stand out, and also gives them a secure looking.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The handle or base A of a feather-duster, having a tapering extensionor section, C, provided with two or more feather-grooves,

01 b, and .a skirt-groove 67, substantially as stand outfrom the handleand from each othspecified. I er, substantially as and for the purposeset 2. In a feather-duster, the combination of forth.

.the handle A B and tapering section 0 pro- I i vided with circulargrooves a a b b, Wit h the I CLARENCE NICHOLS main feathers D,feather-skirt E, and. wind- Witnesses:

ing wire 0, for filling the center of the duster, O. W. BOND,

locking the feathers, and causing them to L. L. BOND.

